Acting Rota mayor fires health center chief

Acting Rota mayor Arvin C. Ogo fired without cause the resident director of the island’s heath center, Crispin M. Ayuyu, on Tuesday.

In the termination notice issued to Ayuyu, a copy of which was obtained by Saipan Tribune yesterday, Ogo did not explain the reason for the termination and only cited a provision of the CNMI Constitution.

“In the capacity as acting mayor of Rota pursuant to Article VI section 7(4) of the Commonwealth Constitution, this letter represents formal notice that your employment with the Rota Health Center is terminated, effective immediately,” Ogo told Ayuyu in the letter.

According to Article VI Section 7(4) of the Commonwealth Constitution, “When a mayor is unable to discharge the duties of office by reason of physical or mental disability, the presiding officer of the municipal council shall be acting mayor. If the presiding officer is not available, another member shall be selected by the council to serve.”

Saipan Tribune tried to contact Rota Mayor Melchor Mendiola, who is off-island, but he didn’t answer this reporter’s calls.

Crispin Ayuyu, when contacted yesterday, declined to comment. Ogo was unavailable when contacted several times at his office.

Acting governor Eloy Inos summoned Ogo yesterday to the Office of the Governor to shed light on the termination but Ogo failed to show up.

“Acting governor Inos did request for a meeting with acting mayor Ogo for purposes of clarifying what may have triggered the recent decision that was handed down regarding the termination of the RHC resident director. Because the RHC is a critical institution that directly deals with the health and welfare of the people of Rota, it is only prudent and proper that the administration is made fully aware of the details surrounding such changes that are being effectuated,” said press secretary Angel Demapan.

As of press time, the meeting has not taken place and Inos is still waiting for a response from the acting mayor.

Ogo is the island’s customs officer and the vice chairperson of the Rota Municipal Council.

Saipan Tribune learned that Mendiola appointed Ogo as acting mayor on Monday. A day later, Ogo issued the termination paper to Ayuyu and named Dr. James W. Toskas, one of the two physicians at the Rota Health Center, as acting resident director.

Rota lawmakers either refused to comment on the issue or did not answer their phones when contacted several times yesterday.

Private sources told Saipan Tribune that Ayuyu’s termination was the result of a “falling out” with the current mayor.

Sources disclosed that Ayuyu had been trying to help the health center’s nurses get their long-delayed salary and had recommended to Mendiola the reprogramming of some of the municipality’s “lapsed funds.” He believes that the mayor has the full authority to reprogram the funds for this purpose.

Ayuyu earlier disclosed that based on his research, the health center’s budget has lapsed funds from previous months that may be used to pay the nurses. He wrote Mendiola to express frustration about the mayor’s earlier statement that “no funds are available for RHC because the higher ups did reprogram and have exhausted any and all amount.”

Rota Health Center reportedly owes its five nurses and one medical laboratory technician about $100,000 in wages.